Some lawmakers weren't thinking when they expanded on this bill.  Seriously, I read it and was like that can't be right......

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080925/NEWS07/80925087

Ahhh summer.  I love the warm weather and not having to wear multiple layers of clothes and having to dress my children heavily.  It's so nice.  The girls and I have been spending nearly everyday outside in the pool and sandbox.  I have gotten the hang of taking them both in the big pool by myself and they seem to enjoy it.  I guess this will be more or less a catch up post as they seem to all be lately.  Oh well better than nothing. 

I took Chloe to the doctor for her 15 month check up and she now weighs 22lbs just 6 pounds less than natalie.  She continues to try and say words her favorite being "my bankie" meaning her blanket.  She says this at least 100 times a day!  She is also using more and more sign language and is learning more from Natalie.  Chloe has also turned out to be quite the trouble maker and antigonizes Natalie whenever she gets the chance.

Natalie is now is the process of potty training.  We started her July 1st and she is doing exceptionally well.  We had to bribe her with a little doll to go #2 on the potty, but as of yesterday she went and today again which is so nice.  We haven't put a diaper on her since the first day of training and now no pull ups for the last week either.  I'm so proud and excited.  She also gets very excited.  The potty she has sings a little song when it senses liquid in it and Natalie gets so exicted to hear it.  If that's all it takes to get her to go the extra money to invest in a potty that does that is well worth it to me!

My sister had her graduation party from college last saturday.  I was in charge of the cake and since i took a cake decorating class i was up to the challenge.  I wound up making a 2 different layer, 12x18, 2 different filling cake.  It was quite the challenge and turned out almost as well as expected.  I will post pictures on here soon for all to see. 

We had playgroup at my house today with my mom friends and we all went swimming and had lunch here.  I was also able to go pick up Lawson ( a baby Chloe's age) to come play here for the day.  His mom just had a baby July 7th.  Welcome baby Hendric!

I read a saying on a hardware store sign that said "the only way to have good neighbors is to be one."  I think that this is totally true.  In the back of my mind before we moved into our house i decided that i wanted to be firends with our neighbors.  I have strived to do this and Tom has too, although he's not quite a people person.  I went to take the garbage out yesterday and talked to a neighbor for 20 minutes and then Tom came out and helped her fix her car.  Just as we were wrapping up our conversation, another neighbor joined in the conversation and we were outside for another half hour.  But it's just nice.  Nice weather brings people out.  And i have to say that it is also easier to strike up a conversation with someone if you have children or pets.  However, if you have neither and want to get to know your neighbors, make them food...perferably something sweet.  People can't resist visiting over a surprise dessert.  I will be watching the new baby next door next week while his single mom goes to physical therapy.  He has just started to smile and is such a doll.  I really enjoy watching him and I know that she appreciates having someone close to home to watch her son.

We put a patio on the back of the house recently along with a large step and walkway to the pool.  We wanted to put on a deck but the village/ county denied our request because of too many restrictions (more than other towns)  I will post pictures of this also.

I was able to attend taste of chicago again this year with my best friend katie.  As always we had a blast.  It's something i look forward to every summer.  The girls went to spend the day with Oma and Bopo (tom's parents) and got to go to the farm where tom's dad works and see animals.  Natalie still talks about seeing the chickens (one pecked her finger) even though this happend weeks ago.

I continue to workout 2-3 times a week and natalie enjoys going too.  She always tells me she wants to play with "master tato" (Mr. Potato Head).  I think it's cute.  Chloe doesn't always love it there, but i think it depends on who is in the kids room that day.  We also continue to attend library story time.  There has been a switch in the lady that runs in and it seems like she's not really in touch with the little kids and is a disorganized.  The girls seem disinterested and i do as well.  We might start attending another library.   I hate to give this time up as it has been a regular thing for natalie since she was 3 months old.  We are though doing the summer reading program with both girls and they seem to be enjoying it. 

That's all for now, check out my new pictures and i wll also post more later!

PS.  We are now the proud owners of a Wii system and Tom and I are addicted.  We play every night after the girls go to bed!

Well I have been neglecting this site.....so looks like time to catch up for all of you that have been wondering what's been going on around here.  We were able to finally sell the neon after the second posting on craigslist.  A nice guy came and bought it even though it didn't run.  Nice to have one less thing to worry about. 

I continue to excercise and went shopping for some new summer clothes in the Target clearence racks.  All my clothes from the past 2 summers are too big and then ones before then are kind of outdated.  It's nice to get a few new things...and in smaller sizes too!  I have also just finished taking the 2 course in cake decorating.  I'm not sure if i will take more from here, but at least a break for the summer since it's getting busy already.  I have posted pictures of my final cake on here. 

Over memorial day weekend, we went to missori to visit tom's brother dave and wife lydia.  We had a great time and so did the girls.  Natalie had fun with "unful dave" (uncle dave) "anida" (aunt lydia).  We got a private tour of the church that lydia is a pastor at which was neat.  Tom and I even got away for a little bit while they watched the girls for us.  We went to a nearby park and also out to dinner and ice cream.  The girls did pretty well in the car for the 5+ hour trip.  I don't know what people did with small kids in the car before DVD players! 

This past tuesday Tom began his long and painful dental work prossess.  It involved a tooth pulling, being drilled and now an implant.  He has a flipper (temporary tooth) for the next 3 month or so.  Tom also put up a clothes line in the backyard.  I am really enjoying using it and hopefully it will make a difference in our gas bill.  We also got a new desk yesterday which was a find off of craigslist.  It's so nice to have a larger space to work at.  I posted a picture of it also. 

The girls are doing well.  Chloe is starting to get another tooth on the bottom.  She is trying to say more and more words.  She is also walking all over the house and chasing after natalie.  Natalie loves to sing.  She is also being more and more compassionate to Chloe by giving her "big hug" many times a day.  She also tells Chloe that "it's alright" or "almost there" or something along those lines when Chloe is crying in the car.  It's really cute.

I continue to hang out with my mom friends for playgroups.  This month i am in charge of the father's day craft.  I am really looking forward to it.  We will also be going to various parks and other events in the area now that it is getting warmer outside.  Tom's work is also likely to pick up soon with the warmer weather.  This is the first week so far that i think we will have 70+ degree days for more than 3 days in a row.  I am hoping he won't have to work alot, but i know he will.  Summer's are always rough because his days are so long.  Hopefully now having friends in the area will help ease the long days.

We opened the swimming pool this weekend and to our surprise it really wasn't that dirty.  The water is clear now and the only thing that is left is to balance the chemicals.  My garden in the backyard is also planted and things are starting to grow.  I have pea pods, greenbeans, green onions and squash.  I went to home depot yesterday and got some more flowers for planting, which natalie helped me with.